Faculty Members shall be the professionals of instruction, clinical practice, research and administration in the basic or clinical sciences who have been appointed with the rank of Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Instructor or Clinical/Adjunct Faculty.
Each professional rank may be qualified further by one or more of these designations: Research, Visiting or Emeritus.
The President, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (SVPAA), Deans, Associate Deans, Assistant Deans, Departmental Chairpersons and Divisional Chairpersons shall be considered Faculty Members. Other administrators whose functions are in part academic may be appointed to Faculty status by the SVPAA after consultation with the APT Committee and subject to the approval of the President of PCOM and PCOM Board. Except as otherwise noted herein, Faculty status shall be conferred only upon those individuals who meet the academic criteria set forth herein. Evaluation of qualifications for Faculty status and rank shall be a function of the APT Committee, which shall convey its recommendations to the SVPAA through the Chairperson of the Faculty Senate.
Each Faculty Member shall be provided with a copy of the Handbook and the Bylaws at the time of his/her appointment. Applicants shall also be provided with a copy of the Handbook and the Bylaws, it being understood, however, that the Handbook and Bylaws apply only to appointed Faculty Members. Decisions regarding appointment, reappointment, promotion and tenure shall be made in accordance with the Handbook. The appointment/reappointment between each Faculty Member and PCOM shall bind both parties to all policies, procedures and responsibilities described in this Handbook and the Bylaws. Each Faculty Member shall be assigned an appropriate appointment classification and academic rank as defined in Article II. Section 5. Duties of Faculty Members.
Faculty Members shall fulfill the instructive, clinical, investigative, scholarly and administrative responsibilities set forth in the Handbook and the Bylaws including, without limitation, classroom teaching and preparation thereof, consultation and interchange with students and colleagues, scholarly research for publication or professional enrichment and service to PCOM, including committee and administrative assignments.
Subject to the approvals of the SVPAA and President and consent of the Board, the Faculty shall have the primary responsibility for recommendations regarding such fundamental academic matters as admission standards, curriculum content and implementation, standards for grading, research and those aspects of student life which relate to the educational process.
The SVPAA with the recommendation of the Faculty, approval of the President and the Board, and in accordance with accreditation guidelines, shall set the requirements for the graduate programs and determine if the requirements have been met. Faculty Members may be requested to certify attendance, participation and competency of individuals enrolled in post-doctoral training programs. In addition, the Faculty shares a major responsibility for matters relating to Faculty status such as Faculty appointment, promotion, tenure review, grievances and other matters related to the attainment and maintenance of professional competence and excellence.
(a) Whole Time. Whole Time (Full Time) Faculty Members devote all of their professional time and efforts to the responsibilities of their appointment, shall receive salaried compensation and shall be entitled to receive full fringe benefits which shall be equitable for all Whole Time Faculty as provided in the applicable benefits publications.
(b) T&A (Teaching & Administration). Part Time Faculty Members shall perform specific administrative, teaching or research duties and may receive compensation for these activities from PCOM.
(c) Volunteer. Professionals of affiliated hospitals and others who volunteer their administrative, clinical, teaching or research activities to augment the educational programs of PCOM shall be designated Volunteer Faculty.
Appointment letters shall specify the Faculty Member’s classification and rank.
At the time of appointment, the initial Faculty rank established shall depend on the satisfaction of the following qualifications: Appointments shall be made, under the procedures set forth in Section 5 of this Article, to the following academic ranks: Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Instructor and Clinical/Adjunct Faculty. Only Whole Time Faculty with an unrestricted associate professor or professor rank shall be eligible for tenure. Instructor and Clinical/Adjunct Faculty are not tenure track appointments. Academic rank as set forth herein is subject to and limited by those restrictions set forth in Section 4 of this Article.
(a) Qualifications. Each Faculty Member shall meet the following qualifications for the ranks indicated:
(1) Professional Education and Specialty Certification for Professorial Ranks: Each Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor shall possess an earned doctorate or an equivalent degree. Each Professor and Associate Professor shall be Board Certified where applicable. Each Assistant Professor shall be either Board Certified or Board Eligible where applicable. Each person holding professional rank shall be an active member of his/her specialty college, where applicable.
(2) Professional Education for Instructors: In certain cases, a candidate with a recently conferred doctoral or equivalent degree shall be appointed to the rank of Instructor. In other cases, one who possesses a Bachelor or Masters degree in an area of special expertise, has three (3) or more years of experience in his/her field, and demonstrates unusual ability or skill in teaching, may qualify for appointment as an Instructor. Whole or Part-Time Faculty Members appointed at the rank of Instructor who do not have a terminal degree may be considered for promotion during their fifth academic year at their current rank by demonstrating exceptional performance and value to the University.
(3) Clinical/Adjunct Faculty are those professionals in the Clinical and Basic Sciences from affiliated hospitals and other institutions who support and participate in the educational programs of the College. Individuals in this category shall be designated as Lecturer or designated clinical rank in the Department in which they hold their appointment. These individuals are encouraged to expand their professional participation at the hospitals affiliated with PCOM so that they become eligible for professional rank as provided herein.
(4) Professional Affiliations for all Faculty Members: Each Faculty Member shall maintain membership in appropriate professional organizations. (5) Ethical Standards for all Faculty Members: Each Faculty Member shall maintain high standards of ethical behavior and professional integrity to include, without limitation, compliance with the AOA Code of Ethics (see last page of this document) and the AAUP Statement on Professional Ethics.
Each Faculty Member shall be considered to be in one of the following categories:
(a) Research. Faculty Members whose rank is preceded by the term Research are those individuals whose primary responsibility is to conduct research. Research Faculty may present an occasional formal lecture and/or seminar. Research Faculty are not eligible for tenure.
(b) Emeritus. The term Emeritus may be prefixed to the academic title of Faculty Members who have completed a long period of distinguished service to PCOM and who are recommended for this title by the appropriate Departmental Chairperson to the APT Committee and subject to approval by the SVPAA in consultation with the Program Dean, the President of PCOM Board and the PCOM Board. Emeritus Faculty are not eligible for tenure.
(c) Visiting. The term Visiting may be prefixed to the academic title of those Faculty Members who hold a faculty appointment at another institution and who are temporarily teaching or conducting research at PCOM. Visiting Faculty are not eligible for tenure.
(d) The term “clinical” may be prefixed to the academic rank of adjunct faculty at the recommendation of the Department Chair and/or Program Dean and or SVPAA and with the recommendation of the APT Committee. This rank would be utilized for volunteer adjunct faculty who participate in the clinical education of PCOM students. Adjunct Faculty is a restricted rank. Adjunct appointments are not eligible for tenure.
(e) Unrestricted Rank. Faculty Members of unrestricted rank are those whose primary responsibility is concerned with the academic programs of PCOM. Their duties may include teaching, research or other scholarly work, institutional service and administration of academic programs. Whole Time Faculty with unrestricted rank of Professor or Associate Professor shall be eligible for tenure. T&A Faculty with unrestricted rank are not eligible for tenure.
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